Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean

The Royal Netherlands Navy contributes to security in all parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, including the Dutch territories in the Caribbean. Commander Netherlands Forces in the Caribbean (COMNLCARIB) is responsible for the activities of Dutch naval units in the area. There are 2 Dutch naval bases on Curaçao and 1 on Aruba.

Tasks in the Caribbean

Dutch military personnel in the Caribbean intercept drug transports and combat illegal fishing and environmental crime, among other things. They also lend support during search-and-rescue operations and provide disaster relief in the event of hurricanes and other natural disasters or serious incidents.

Parera Naval Base and Suffisant Naval Base

2 Dutch naval bases, Parera and Suffisant, are located on the island of Curaçao. The latter has facilities for conscription in the Caribbean, which is not military conscription but social conscription. This type of conscription offers underprivileged Antillean young people the chance of taking professional training.

Savaneta Marine Barracks

The Savaneta Marine Barracks on Aruba accommodates 32 Infantry Company of the Marine Corps. The marines regularly train on the island, but also in other areas in the vicinity of the island. There are, for example, exercise areas on the Windward and Leeward Islands, the French islands in the Caribbean, French Guyana, Suriname and the United States.

An Aruban militia platoon is responsible for surveillance and security at the barracks.